A Simple Idea with a Different Foundation

When I first started building Self-Manager.net, I didn't plan to make a big productivity platform.
I just wanted a better way to organize my day.

Most to-do list apps felt disconnected — they had tasks and projects, but no real sense of time or flow. I wanted something that worked around dates, not folders.
That's how the first version of Self-Manager was born — a date-based task system built with tables and rows.

Each table represented a day (or a project), each row was a task, and every table had notes and a self-message section where I could write something to myself — a reflection, motivation, or quick reminder.

It was simple, but it made me feel in control.
And once I started using it daily, I began noticing the small things that would make it better.

That's when the journey really started — adding one feature at a time, solving real problems as they appeared.

Building the Core Features

The first limitation I hit was scale.
After a few months, I had hundreds of tables and thousands of tasks — and scrolling endlessly wasn't efficient anymore.

So the first major addition was Search.
It allowed me to instantly find anything — a note, a phrase, or a task I wrote months ago.

Then I realized something: I often wanted to rearrange my tasks.
Sometimes a new one was more important than the older ones, but I didn't want to delete and rewrite everything.
So I added manual ordering — the ability to reorder both rows (tasks) and tables by drag-and-drop.

Editing multiple tasks also took time, so I built table editing, letting me modify multiple rows quickly.
And since some tables were more important than others, I added pinning — now I could keep my key tables one click away, always visible at the top.

Each new feature made daily use smoother, and I kept refining the workflow until it felt natural.

Improving Reusability and Progress Tracking

Over time, I noticed patterns in my daily planning.
I often reused the same structure of tasks — like "Plan day," "Deep work," "Client communication," "Review progress."

That's when I created table duplication.
It allowed me to reuse my daily setup without rebuilding it every time. Alongside it, I added table transfer, so a duplicated table could easily be moved to another date.

Once I had multiple versions of the same structure, I wanted to measure how much I was actually completing.
So I added completion percentages for each table — a small but powerful addition that gave a sense of progress and accountability.

To better manage large projects, I added sorting options — tasks could now be ordered by creation date, priority, status, last edit, completion time, or completion date.
This gave every user flexibility in how they view and process information.

Connecting Projects and Making It Personal

As I started managing more complex work, I needed a way to link smaller daily tasks to larger goals.
That's how table linking was born — connecting related tables, so daily planning could link directly to a broader project overview.
Each linked table also displayed its completion rate, creating a chain of progress across multiple days or projects.

But productivity isn't only about data — it's about feeling comfortable in your workspace.
So I added personalization.
Users could set custom images for the sidebar background, different header images, and even individual images per table.

It turned the app from a plain dashboard into something visually unique.
For me, seeing a motivational image behind my tasks gave a small but real boost to how it felt to open the app every morning.

From Solo Work to Collaboration

At first, Self-Manager was just for me — but soon I wanted to use it with my clients and collaborators.
So I built collaboration features, allowing users to share tables and invite team members to work together.

Then I added comments, so every table became a mini communication hub where teams could discuss progress, ask questions, and keep notes without switching apps.

This addition transformed Self-Manager from a solo productivity tool into a collaborative workspace, ideal for teams who want clarity without complexity.

Time Tracking — Measuring What Matters

The next question I had was:
"How much time am I actually spending on my work?"

To answer that, I introduced time tracking.
First came automated time estimations — based on user activity and task duration patterns. Then I added a manual timer, and finally, the ability to edit time precisely if you forgot to start or stop it.

This was a turning point — once you can measure time, you start to see where it goes, what's draining your day, and what's truly productive.

Enter AI: Making Productivity Smarter

When AI started to become mainstream, I saw a big opportunity.
Instead of just tracking and managing work, Self-Manager could now understand it.

I integrated seven AI features that give the platform a layer of intelligence:

• AI table creation: describe a project or idea in plain text, and AI builds a full table with tasks.

• AI table summaries: generate a clear overview of your progress.

• AI period reviews: weekly and monthly summaries that analyze your activity and results.

• AI chat: discuss the results directly with AI to identify improvements or insights.

This made Self-Manager not just a place to manage tasks — but also a system that helps users reflect, learn, and optimize how they work.

Gaining Perspective with Overviews

As the app grew, I realized I needed a bigger picture.
Daily tables were great for focus, but I wanted to see trends over time — what weeks were most productive, when I completed the most tasks, and how much time I invested.

So I built weekly and monthly views — and the Overview feature, which provides data like:

• Total and average completion rates.

• Task completion by priority and status.

• Total time invested per day and per period.

• Comments and collaboration statistics.

These insights turned Self-Manager into not just a productivity tracker, but a full performance dashboard.

Modernizing the Experience

After years of continuous additions, I decided it was time for a complete redesign.
Every page, button, and layout was reworked for a cleaner, more modern look.
I focused on creating a visual balance — where information density meets simplicity.

The result was a sleek interface that feels professional yet lightweight — fast to load, intuitive to navigate, and pleasant to use for hours each day.

Looking Back

What started as a small personal tool — just me, my ideas, and a few tables — has evolved into a comprehensive productivity platform.

Self-Manager.net now combines:

• Task and project management

• Collaboration tools

• Time tracking

• AI insights and automation

• Personalized workspaces

• Performance analytics

It's still growing, with new features and improvements in development every month.

This journey taught me something simple but powerful:
If you build consistently — one meaningful feature at a time — you can turn even a small idea into something truly valuable.

Try It Yourself

If you haven't yet explored it, visit Self-Manager.net and see how it can help you plan, track, and review your work — all in one place.
Whether you're managing personal goals or a full team, Self-Manager is built to make productivity feel simpler, smarter, and more meaningful.